"No one..."

Our Family Camp speaker this year is an elder by the name of JD Wetterling. He's a former combat fighter pilot who is now an author and speaker. One of the books he's written is called "No one..." Wetterling examines six of Jesus' sayings from the Gospel of John containing that phrase: "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (3:3), "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (6:44), "No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6), and so on.

I enjoyed this little book. Wetterling expounds on each of the six "no one" sayings, and in the process clearly and cogently presents the message of the gospel. He doesn't assume any knowledge of Christian doctrine or terminology on the part of the reader, but clearly communicates the truths of the gospel message to anyone open to learn.

The exclusivity of the Christian message is definitely unpopular in today's culture. It seems the greatest problem with Christianity in a post-modern world is its insistence that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. But this is exactly what Jesus himself taught. And those who desire to be faithful to Jesus' own teaching will find it impossible to conform the message of Christ to the spirit of the age. In his book , Wetterling communicates the truth of the gospel in a straightforward but disarming way. He writes as a man of faith, and as one who sincerely desires the reader to share in his faith. In doing so, he sets a good example for Christians. Our message must be clear and unapologetic, but at the same time it must express a sincere concern for the one who listens.

I have sometimes thought that branding Christianity as intolerant is really unfair. After all, Jesus said "whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). And the Bible says, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). God's grace excludes no one on the basis of race, gender, intelligence, social standing, or even what sins one has committed. Just as there is an aspect of the gospel that is radically exclusive ("no one comes to the Father except through me"), there is an aspect of the gospel that is radically inclusive: everyone who comes to Christ is accepted by the Father. Maybe another book worthy to be written would be, "Everyone..."?